Deana was born and raised in Rome. She received a B.A. Degree in History from Mercer University. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Faulkner Law in Montgomery, Alabama. She practiced Family Law, Estate Law, and Juvenile Law at her law office Deana Perry, LLC. Deana was appointed Associate Juvenile Judge of Floyd County in 2023, becoming the first African American Judge appointed in Floyd County. She is currently an Associate Juvenile Judge in the Tallapoosa and Rome Circuit Courts. She shares her home with her fur baby, Lincoln.
Community Service Activities:
• Past-President and current member of Junior Service League since 2013
• League for Learning
• Chieftain’s Museum
• Women of Worth
• Restoration Rome
• Floyd Commission on Children and Youth
• Brighter Birthdays
Nominator: “Deana is dedicated, organized, focused, and without fail, always puts service at the heart of each decision she makes as a leader.”
Melissa Rutledge
A native of Cedartown, Melissa received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design.
Her activities include:
• Founder and organizer of Rome Knitterati
• Secretary and graphic designer with Rome International Film Festival
• Board member, Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful
• Former Gallery Coordinator and former board member at Makervillage
• Volunteer fundraiser for Floyd Felines
• Creator of Free Art Friday in Rome
• Other volunteer activities have included volunteering with: Brighter Birthdays; Cancer Navigators; Rome Downtown Development; CRBI “Catfish Kissing Contest”; Davies Shelters; Hospitality House for Women, Inc; Public Animal Welfare Services (P.A.W.S); and Rome Area Council for the Arts (RACA).
Nominator: “Melissa is always working on at least one if not more community service projects.”
Jay Shell is not a lifetime Roman but you’d think he was by seeing the compassion he has for this community.
Moving to Rome 19 years ago, he has been involved in the following:
- Downtown Development Authority as Promotion Chairman and Business Improvement Board
- Floyd County Board of Education
- Community Coach for Rome Floyd Parks and Rec
- Leadership Rome
- Owning a business on Broad Street (originally 333 on Broad, then Brewhouse and now Rome City Brewing Co.), Jay has often helped people on the street with food warm clothing or job opportunities.
- Has hired bands to assist fund raisers such as: Exchange Club Family Resource Center, Cancer Navigators and The Heart of the Community.
- Rome River Jam Concerts
Jay has been married to Melissa for 19 years. They have two children, Madalyn and Jaxson.
Nominators for Jay share: “Jay is the kind of person who not only makes you proud of how far Rome has come, but proud to be a Roman.”
